Kareem Hunt traffic stop video released

As reported by DBN’s Thomas Moore on January 24, Browns’ running back Kareem Hunt was pulled over by the Rocky River Police Department on a cold Tuesday for speeding in his Chrysler on I-90 West at the Hilliard Blvd. exit.

You can read Thomas’ report here:

https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2020/1/24/21080336/cleveland-browns-kareem-hunt-ticketed-for-speeding-marijuana-found-in-car

Now, the dashcam video has been obtained and released by TMZ Sports. Hunt was traveling at a high rate of speed in the fast lane when he passed the parked patrol car. As soon as Hunt flies by, the officer Michael Asbury lights him up to which Hunt then pulled over.

The officer got Hunt out of his car and after a short conversation apparently Hunt mentioned he plays for the Browns. Asbury then moved the athlete to the back seat of his patrol car to which he then instructed Hunt that he was going to search his vehicle because of the odor of marijuana but would not place him in handcuffs. Hunt, 24, told the officer that he was in a hurry to catch a flight. Asbury informed Hunt that if he did not find anything of consequence then he will simply write him a speeding ticket and send him on his way.

Before the search, Asbury did say, “You seem like there’s something else going on here” to which Hunt replied, “No, I don’t.”

After a short search, the officer returned to talk with Hunt. Here is the TMZ short-version of the traffic stop:

Hunt is emotional during his conversation with the officer, and appeared to be expecting the worst. “I’ve been through a lot all this year” he said to Asbury. The officer stated, “If it is just a traffic ticket....” and then Hunt interrupted with “It IS just a traffic ticket. Give me a traffic ticket please, yes sir. I lost everything already sir.”

Um, what? Didn’t the Browns hire you when every other team in the league thought you were the next Ray Rice? Weren’t you playing professional football in 2019 instead of bagging groceries or taking on a substitute teacher position? Yes, you were suspended for eight games, but then you made eight game checks with a club that decided to give you a second chance.

Hunt was a third-round pick of the Chiefs in 2017 and then became the league’s rushing leader in his rookie campaign with 1,327 rushing yards, 455 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He was named Rookie-of-the-Year and elected to the Pro Bowl. The following season he gained 824 rushing yards along with 378 receiving yards and scored 14 touchdowns in just 11 games before the video surfaced and was subsequently cut after lying about the incident to Chiefs’ co-owner Clark Hunt.

With the Browns this past season, he gained 179 rushing yards and 285 receiving yards and scored just three touchdowns.

After his search of Hunt’s vehicle, Asbury is seen toting a gallon-size baggie with objects inside back to his cruiser. He opened the back door and said, “Hey Kareem, so you know about this stuff, right?” Hunt’s response was, “Uh...come on brother.”

Inside Hunt’s vehicle was marijuana and an open container of Vodka. Hunt claimed the weed was his brother’s.

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Asbury then attempted to counsel the talented running back. “I hate to say this but you of anybody should know that if you’re trying to stay good, stay in the right path and all that stuff, this is not the way to go.”

Hunt replied with “No, no it’s not. It’s not and I’m sorry. I messed up.”

The officer definitely knows the Browns and later told Hunt he “is the hugest Browns fan ever, born and raised in Cleveland.” He then stated, “You had a good second part of the year, you don’t want to screw up with some weed.” Asbury then cut Hunt a break and told him he was just going to write him a speeding ticket, confiscate the contraband and told Hunt “I’m not going to write you a weed ticket” to which Hunt thanked the officer and stated, “I will never do this again.”

Asbury then asked Hunt that if he was to write a ticket for weed, how would that work? Apparently, the officer was curious about how something like drugs affect professional athletes regarding their standing in the league.

Hunt told the officer, “I would be tested right away.”

The conversation then jumped to how poorly the Browns have been lately, and that Hunt hinted that he wished he was still a member of the Kansas City Chiefs; the club that drafted him and then abruptly cut him loose after a video surfaced of him with violence against a woman.

“It’s frustrating to watch the Browns every single year,” Asbury stated. Hunt, who attended South High School in Willoughby, Ohio and then went to the University of Toledo, responded with “Me too! I’ve been with you my whole life.”

“You know what happened to me,” Hunt continued. “I should be playing for a frickin’ Super Bowl.” The reference was the fact that the Chiefs are in this year’s Super Bowl. “It hurts,” he continued. “It hurts my soul like you don’t understand. Fighting a lot of s**t lately and it still hurts me to this day. I love Cleveland, love the Browns - but you don’t understand.”

At the end of the traffic stop, Hunt stated that he has never failed a league-mandated drug test. Asbury then asked, “But if I was to call down there now and they came out and tested you, you’re probably going to fail, correct?”

Hunt replied with, “I mean, yes sir. It’s the off-season. I’m sorry I was having a good time.”

Asbury continued to try to counsel Hunt and said, “Look at the Ravens’ running back [Ray Rice]. What happened to him, right? I’m shocked you got a second chance. I would think that second chance would be enough to keep you clean.”

The Browns did issue a statement that they were “aware and looking into” this incident.